Heat exchange apparatus



Oct. 25, 1932. J. A POWER nan EXCHANGE; APiARATUS 2 sheets-sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 18, 1930 INVENTORY John HPotfee:

III II I I II WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY Oct. 25, 1932. J. A. POTTER 1,334,209

HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 18, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flt-1.5.

- WITNESSES: INVENTOR John RQd-tu:

ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN A. POTTER, E PROSPECT PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Application filed September 18, 1930, Serial No. 482,834. Renewed February 17, 1932.

My invention relates to heat exchange apbodying the floating tube plate distinguished paratus of the surface type having a shell from heat exchange apparatus wherein one and a tube bundle aggregate removably secured therein, the tube bundle aggregate embodying a bundle of tubes,'and tube plates at both ends of the shell in which the tubes of the tube bundle are rolled or otherwise se- 7 cured, and it has for an object to provide a form ,of structure which shall permit relative expansion and contraction of the tubes 10 with respect to the shell and, at the same time, afi'ord ready removal of the tube bundle aggregate from the shell.

My invention has for a further object to provide a form of heat'exchanger which shall embody a floating tube plate in order to afford expansion of the tube bundle relative to the shell of the heat exchanger and it has for a more particular object to utilize a flat circular disc for the floating tube plate as distinguished from a floating tube plate having annular flanges or other p'rotuberances cast thereon.

My invention has for still another object I to effect a fluid-tight joint between the floating tube plate and the shell structure by means of a flexible diaphragm" so as to entirely avoid the use of stufilng boxes or their equivalents because of the degree of care and 3o maintenance required by the latter.

such times as one portion'of the tube bundle 5oer or cover for the end of the apparatus em My invention has for still another object J to provide a form of supporting means for the floating tube plate which shall permit the latter to become displaced angularly at may assume a relatively different temperature than another portion I My invention has for still'another object to provide about exchange; of the foregoing character-wherein one edge of each joint embodied in the heat exchanger; at the end containing the floating tilbe plate shallbe exposed in order that internal leakage between the fluid circulated inside the tubes of the tube bundle and the fluid circulated outside thetubesof the tube bundle may be avoided.

My invention has for still another object to provide a heat exchanger of the foregoing character which shall embody only one headview of that end of the heat exchan cover is provided for the tube plate and a second and surrounding cover is provided for the shell structure.

My invention has for still another object to provide a heat exchanger of the foregoing character wherein the floating tu'be plate is clamped in position in order to avoid havmg the retaining means project through or into the tube plate.

Referring to the end of the heat exchange apparatus which embodies the fixed tube plate, my invention has for an object to prov de, in heat exchange apparatus wherein the pipes for circulating the fluid .through the tube bundle are attached to flanges provided on the shell, improved means for preventing leaka e between the fluid circulating inside the tu es of the tube bundle and the fluid circulat-ing outside'the tubes of the tube bundle.

These and other objects are eifected by my invention, as will be apparent from the following descriptions and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in elevation, and partly in cross-section, showing one embodiment of my heat exchange apparatus, the por tion of the view in cross-section being taken on the line II of Fig. 3; i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail ratus shown in Fig. 1 which embodies the floating. tube sheet portion of the section taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1;

ing the arrangement of the packing and the vent to the atmosphere ;.'and,

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the same in a vertical position and the parts dise appaall connected as when the tube bundle is being withdrawn.

Referring to the drawings, I show a shell 11 having a substantially rigid flange 12 at one end and a flexible or diaphragm-like flange 13 at the other end. The shell 11 is also provided with an inlet opening 14 at one end and an outlet opening 15 at the other end. A tube bundle aggregate is removably secured within the shell 11 and consists of a tube bundle 16 supported at one end by a tube plate 17' which is secured in fixed position to the flange 12, and at the other end by a floating tube plate 18. The latter tube plate is preferably a flat, rolled disc entirely devold of annular flanges or other protuberances 0r projections.

As shown particularly in Fig. 2, a cover member 19 abuts against one face of the floating tube plate 18 and cooperates therewithto provide a return fluid' chamber 20 for the fluid circulating through the tubes of the tube bundle 16. Interposedbetween the other face of the floating tube plate 18 and the flexible flange 13 is a ring or annular member 21. The annular member 21, the tube plate 18 and the cover member 19 are retained in axial alignment by suitable recesses 22 and 23 provided in the flanges of the respective members, suitable bolts or screws 24 serving to clamp the tube plate between the members. By means of this clamping arrangement, no retaining bolts or screws need project through or into the floating tube plate. The annular member 21 is secured to the flexible flange 13 by use of a suitable backing ring 25 and suitable screws or bolts 26 passing through the backing ring and through the flexible flange into the annular member.

The flange 13 is made of relatively thin material which permits it to flex axially, or in other words,'act as a diaphragm. lVhen any relative expansion or contraction takes place between the tubes of the tube bundle 16 and the shell 11, the tube plate 18 and the annular member 21, rigidly secured thereto, move axially of the shell by flexing the flange 13. In this manner, the tube plate 18 is movably supported by the body of the shell 11 without the use of a stufling box. Furthermore, the flaiige 13 has sutlicient flexibility to permit the tube plate 18 to incline itself somewhat should one portion of the tube bundle assume a different temperature than another portion. In addition, the joint between the annular member 21 and the tube plate 18 and the joint between the header 19 and the tube plate 18 are all exposed, along oneedge, to the outside atmosphere.

In order to afford removal of the tube bundle 16 and tube plates 17 and 18 as a unit from the shell, I split the annular member 21 longitudinally into two oppositely-disposed sections 28 and 29, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. These lateral sections a1 suitably joined, preferably, in a plane horizontal to the axis of the shell, and held together by suitable bolts 30 (shown in Fig. 1).

Referring now to the fixed tube plate 17 at the other end of the shell, I provide, a header 36 which cooperates with the tube plate 17 to form a distribution chamber for the fluid flowing through the tubes. This chamber is divided-by a partition 37 into an inlet compartment 88 and an outlet compartment 39.

Along one side of the shell 11, a portion of the flange- 12 is exte'ndedback to form fluid circulation ducts 40 and 41 terminating with flanges 42 and 43 to which pipes or'conduits, not shown, are secured for supplying the circulating fluid. At their other ends, each of the ducts 40 and 41 communicates through similar openings 44 and 45 in the flange 12 and corresponding openings 46 and 47 in the tube plate 17 and conduits 48 and 49 formed in the cover or header member 36, with the inlet compartment 38 and outlet compartment 39, respectively.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, I provide a gasket or packing member 51 between the tube plate 17 and the flange 12 for securing a fluid-tight joint therebetween. Between the tube plate 17 and the cover 36 another packing member 52 is placed. Referring to the joint between the plate 17 and the flange 12, it will be observed that the packing 51 is relied on to form the seal between the fluid flowing through the shell. and that flowing through the ducts to the tubes. Any leakage through this packing would result in the commingling of the two fluids. To prevent this, I provide an annular slot 53 cut in that portion of the face of the flange 12 lying between the duct openings 40 and 41 and the shell. A corresponding slot is cut in the packing 51. The slot 53 and the corresponding slot in the packing thus form a vent in the joint between the two fluids, which vent serves to collect any fluid that may attempt to pass from one fluid space to the other. These slots are connected to a source of vacuum or to the atmosphere through suitable ducts or openings 54. Any fluid tending to leak in either direction through the joint between the duct openings 40 and 41 and the interior of the shell will flow into the venting .slot 53 and be led away through openings 54.

lVhen it is desired to remove the tube bundle aggregate from the shell for the purpose of cleaning the tubes, repair, etc., the header or cover member 36 is removed from one end of the shell and the annular member 21 and the header or cover member 19 associated therewith are removed from the other end of ,the shell. The annular member 21 is removed by-detaching it from the flange 13 and the header 19 and by then disconnecting the oppositely-disposed horizontal joints pro-' vided in the annular member 21 so as to divide the latter into two sections 28 and 29, which sections can then be moved laterally from between the flexible flange 13 and the 1 tube plate 18. After releasing the stationary tube plate 17 by the removal of header 36 and the floating tube plate 18 b the re- {moval of the header 19.and the annu ar memher 21, the tube bundle aggregate may be withdrawn longitudinally t rough the .end 12 "of the shell, the diameter of the floating tube sheet 18 being less than the inside diameter of the shell. During this procedure, it will be noted that all of the parts secured to the floating tube plate 18 are easily removable, leaving no impediment to the passage of the floating tube plate through the shell; secondly,'that it is not necessary to disconnect any of the pipes or conduits from the shell structure to release the 'tube bundle aggregate for removal from the shell. o

It will therefore be seen that, according to my invention, I providea heat exchanger so constructed and arranged as to secure the floating tube plate directly to the shell structure with atype of connection which will permit the necessary axial movement of this tube plate and, atthe same time, eliminate the possi ility of interchange between thefluids circulating through the shell at this point inasmuch as one side of each joint is exposed. It will further be seen that I provide a con: struction which'eliminates the necessity of removing any of the pipes that supply fluid to the heat exchanger and, at the sametime,

I also eliminate the possibility of interchange of fluids at this end 0 the shell.

While I have sho my invention in but I one form, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the'prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is: f g 1. In a heat exchanger, the combination of a shell, a tube bundle aggregate for theshell including a tube plate, an expansion joint for connecting the shell to the plate including a flexiblemember connected to the shell and a ring consisting of lateral sections and con-.

- nected to the flexible member and to the tube plate. I

2. In ashell; a tube bundle aggregate for the shell including a tube plate; and an expansion joint for connecting the shell to the plate in- 'cluding a flexible member connected-to the shell, a ring consistin connecting the inner portion of the ring to the ate. h

tube 1p: I w

3. a heat exchanger, the combination of a heat exchanger, the combination of of arcuatesections; means for connecting t e outer portion of the I ,ring to the flexible member, and .means for a shell; a tube bundle aggregate for the shell includinga tube plate; and an expansion joint for connecting the shell to the plate/including an annular flexible member connected to the 'shell and extended outwardly therefromfa ring, means for connecting the outer margin of the flexible member to the ring, and means for connecting the plate to the ring embodying a member providing a chamber communicat' withth'e tubes of the aggregate.

, 4. n a heat exchanger, the combination of a shell; :1; tube bundle aggregate for the shell including a tube plate withdrawable throu h the shell an expansion joint for connectingt e shell to the plate including a flexible member connected to the shell, a ring consisting of arcuate sections, a detachable means for securing the ring sections together, means for securing the flexible member to the ring, and means for securing the plate to the ring with the plate overlapping the latter.

5. In a heat exchanger, the combination of a shell; a tube bundle aggregate for the shell embodying tubes and a tube plate withdrawable through the shell and an expansion joint for connecting the shell to the plate including a flexible member connected to the shell, a

ring consisting of arcuate sections, detach- I and connected to the shell at one end, a ring consisting of arcuate sections, detachable means for securing the ring sections together, detachable means for connecting together the outer portions of the flexible member and of" the ring, said plate overlapping the ring, a head provided with a chamber; communicatmg with the'tubes, and means for connecting the head to the ring with the plate interposed v therebetween.

I 7. 'In a-heat exchanger, the combination of a shell, a tube bundle aggregate with for shell and embodying tubes and a tube plate pansion joint for connecting the shell to the plate including ,an annular flexible member connected to one end of the shell, a ring con sisting of arcuate sections,-detachable means outer margins of the flexible member' a-n d of the ring laterally in contact, said ring having anf inne'r annular re'cessatthe side thereof opposite: to the flexible member, a head having an annular recess mating with the first recess and providedqwitha chamber commu-- .withdrawable through the shell; and an exfor securing the ringsectiohs together, an annularseries of bolts for connecting the nicating with the tubes, and an annular series of bolts for connecting the head to the ring with the plate disposed in said mating recesses and clamped between the ring and the head.

8. Ina heat exchanger, the combination of a shell having openings providing for the circulation of medium'therethrough, a tube bundle aggregate for the shell embodying tubes and a tube plate, a joint between one side of the tube plate and the shell including a portion of the tube plate lateral surface and one end surface of theshell, a head cooperating with the other side of the tube plate to provide a chamber communicating with the tubes, means providing a conduit intersecting said joint and communicating with said chamber and including connecting passages formed in the shell, the tube plate, and the head, and an escape passage bounded by said end of the shell and the tube late and located within the portion of the oint between said conduit and the interior of the shell.

9. In a heat exchanger, the combination of a shell, a removable tube bundle aggregate including a tube sheet having a diameter smaller than the shell to permit withdrawal through the shell and tubes having their ends extending through the tube sheet and rigidly secured thereto, and means connecting the tube sheet and shell including an annular clamping ring formed of arcuate sections.

10. In a heat exchanger, the combination of a shell, a removable tube bundle aggregate including a tube sheet having a diameter smaller than the shell to permit withdrawal through the shell and tubes having their ends extending through the tube sheet and rigidly secured thereto, and flexible means connecting the tube sheet and shell to permit relative longitudinal movement therebetween and including an annular clamping ring formed of arcuate sections.

11. In a heat exchanger, the combination of a shell, a removable tube bundle aggregate including a tube sheet having a diameter smaller than the shell to permit withdrawal through the shell and tubes having their ends extending through the tube sheet and rigidly secured thereto, and means connecting the tube sheet and shell and including a flexible diaphragm and an annular clamping ring formed of arcuate sections.

12. In a heat exchangen'the combination of a shell, a removable tube bundle aggregate comprising a pair of spacedtube sheets and tubes extending between the tube sheets and having their ends extending through and fixedly secured to the sheets, one of said tube end of the shell and being of smaller diameter other tube sheet with respect to the head structure.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this lOth day of September,

JOHN A. POTTER. 

